cartoon

Overview

Meaning Now

• A preparatory design or drawing made on a heavy paper for a mural, tapestry, or stained glass.
• A humorous or satirical drawing, often featuring a caption or panel sequence, typically published in a newspaper or magazine.
• An animated film or television program.

Journey

The term originally referred to the full-scale sketches Renaissance artists created before transferring their designs onto walls for frescoes. The transition to the modern sense occurred in 1843, when the magazine Punch published satirical drawings commenting on the Westminster Palace frescoes, rebranding the medium as a form of social commentary.

Evolution

1. Ancient Greek

   khartēs

   “leaf of papyrus”

2. Latin

   carta

   “paper”

3. Italian

   cartone

   “heavy paper”

   augmentative of carta

4. 17th century English

   cartoon

   “preparatory sketch”

   borrowed from Italian art context

5. 19th century English

   cartoon

   “satirical drawing”

   first used in Punch magazine

Connections

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